Between images of escalating security incidents on screens and social media platforms on one hand, and an unrelenting longing for her “first home” on the other, Rana faced a difficult decision: should she visit Lebanon during the holiday season or postpone the trip? She says she hesitated for a long time, fearing the security situation, but in the end, emotion won out.
“I wanted my children to experience the holiday in Lebanon, with family. Yes, there is concern, but the holidays here have a different flavor,” Rana told Alhurra, her voice mixing anxiety and yearning.
Rana is not alone. As the year draws to a close, many Lebanese expatriates have chosen to overcome hesitation and return home, refusing to let security fears overshadow their anticipated joy. “There is a feeling that cannot be explained, a sense of belonging that makes everything easier,” Rana adds, considering Lebanon’s holiday atmosphere a form of psychological sanctuary amid the storms.
A Scene Long Missed by Lebanese People
At the height of the holiday season, Lebanon reclaimed a scene absent for years: crowded airports, nearly full hotels, and restaurants bustling with patrons late into the night. Life pulses despite fragile security, as if the country is once again declaring its resilience.
Official indicators point to an active holiday season, with visitor arrivals expected to exceed 400,000, according to former minister and head of economic associations Mohamed Chukair. In a statement, he noted that growing demand prompted airlines to increase flights to approximately 75 per day. Hotel occupancy rates surpassed 80% in Beirut and 65% elsewhere, with projections reaching more than 90% in the capital.
In the restaurant sector, Khaled Nuzha, vice president of the Association of Restaurant, Café, Nightclub, and Patisserie Owners, said activity has been improving since late November due to the strong return of expatriates, with the peak period extending from December 22 through early 2026. He emphasized that this year’s turnout is better than previous years, particularly compared with last year, which witnessed a destructive war. He also said the visit of Pope Leo XIV provided a “real boost” to Lebanon and various sectors, delivering messages of hope and optimism for all Lebanese.
This celebratory scene unfolds as Lebanon continues to face a highly sensitive security reality, with holiday cheer shadowed by the remnants of war. The country has not yet recovered from the aftermath of the recent confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel, which caused significant human and material losses.
Despite a ceasefire agreement coming into effect about a year ago, near-daily Israeli strikes continue to stoke fears of an abrupt escalation. Concerns deepen amid discussions of a potential move to implement the second phase of the “Hezbollah Arms Containment Plan,” despite the party’s refusal, raising political and security tensions and heightening uncertainty about the period ahead.
Nostalgia Over Fear
Mona, visiting from France, summed up the feelings of many: “I hesitated because of the news, but the holidays in Lebanon are irresistible.” After three years away from celebrating New Year’s with her family, she made a point of restoring simple traditions: family meals, meeting friends, neighbors’ warmth, while avoiding high-risk areas.
Economic expert Professor Jassem Ajaka described current tourism indicators as “positive,” with “more than 10,000 expatriates and tourists arriving daily,” predicting a 10% increase in tourist numbers compared with last year, bringing additional foreign currency inflows.
Expatriates form the backbone of Lebanon’s tourism, Ajaka told Alhurra, “whether coming from Gulf countries, Europe, America, or Africa, while international tourism remains modest, largely limited to visitors from Arab countries, with GCC tourism restricted due to existing constraints.”
Nuzha said the Arab presence is particularly notable this year, especially from GCC states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait. GCC visitors are distinguished by longer stays, higher spending, and repeated visits. He also noted continuing visitors from Iraq, Egypt, and Jordan, in contrast to declining spending power among resident Lebanese due to the erosion of the middle class and frozen bank deposits, which shifts priorities toward essential needs.
To spread joy and welcome holiday visitors, the Ministry of Tourism launched a series of daily events titled “Lebanon: The Most Beautiful Gift” at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on December 17. The celebrations included Christmas tree decorations, musical and entertainment performances, and meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, continuing through December 23.
Active Business… But
Meanwhile, some Lebanese preferred to stay in the country during the holidays. Hadi said, “Despite everything, the country is alive. Markets are crowded, lights fill the streets, and happiness exists.” For him, gathering with family at year’s end is itself an achievement.
“I was happy my siblings returned from abroad so we could welcome the New Year together. Despite economic and security challenges, there is a collective desire to preserve the holiday spirit and show that life goes on, and that Lebanese are capable of creating moments of joy amid darkness.”
Tourism momentum has also driven noticeable commercial activity, with increases of roughly 25% in Beirut and 20% in other regions. Car rentals ranged between 80% and 90%, according to Chukair.
Ajaka explained that the holiday season “boosts consumer spending, traditionally reaching around $5 billion annually, concentrated in Beirut, Keserwan, and Metn.” Most of this spending goes to restaurants, car rentals, and shops, with a smaller share for hotels, as many expatriates stay in family homes.
Nuzha added that “tourism remains geographically limited due to security issues in the south and Bekaa Valley, as well as delayed snowfall affecting mountain tourism, alongside ongoing infrastructure challenges.”
In response to increased commercial activity during the holidays and to support the national economy, Beirut Port’s management extended daily operating hours, including Saturdays, until 6 p.m. through the end of 2025, aiming to improve service efficiency and facilitate cargo and customs clearance.
Seasonal Revival?
Last Thursday, Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny toured Rafic Hariri International Airport, noting that about one million passengers had arrived over the past three months. He emphasized that Lebanon’s economy relies on expatriates, making airport focus vital, with plans for a second airport in the future.
He added that expatriates represent a strength for Lebanon, urging them to visit family and invest in the country, stressing that there is no salvation for Lebanon without its state and strong security apparatus.
Yet the key question remains: is Lebanon experiencing a temporary seasonal revival or the start of a sustainable trajectory?
Nuzha said, “Any stimulation of the tourism sector has a positive effect on the broader economy, as it is the main engine for other sectors and a source of employment, particularly for around 50,000 students working in it.”
He disclosed that the association is working on modern tourism legislation and sustainable tourism initiatives, asserting that “Lebanon has all the elements for this,” while emphasizing that tourism “cannot flourish without political and security stability.”
Ajaka noted that holiday-season dollars “revitalize service sectors and increase cash liquidity, but they create only seasonal jobs, while the cash-based economy limits tax collection efficiency, except for basic fees such as value-added tax.”
Turning this momentum into sustainable revenue, Ajaka said, requires “political and security stability, a clear strategy to attract tourists and expatriates year-round, and comprehensive investments and reforms in both the tourism sector and the economy as a whole.”
